Apparatus for transferring tobacco to tobacco processing machines



March 28, 1967 H. scHLossMAcHER APPARATUS FOR TRANSFEBRING TOBACCO TOTOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES y 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1962 Q mmMarch 28. 1967 H. scHLoSsMAcHER 3,311,114

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING TOBACCO TO TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES March28, 1967 H. scHLossMAcHER 3,311,114 APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING TOBACCOTO TOBACCO'.

PROCESSING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet4 5 Fig. 3

/N VEA! T02 #055er .5c/a ass/VACHE@ Marh 28, 1967 H. scHLossMAcHL-:R3,311,114

APPARATS FOR TRANSFERRING TOBACCO ATO TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES FiledJan. 5, 1962 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 28, 1967 H, SCHLOSSMACHER3,311,114

APPARATUS FCR TRANSFERRING TOBACCO To ToBAcco PROCESSING MACHINES FiledJan. 3, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet Fig] Fig /213 rragA/EY United States PatentOh burg-Bergedorf, Germany Filed Jan. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 164,125 Claimspriority, application Germany, Jan. 4, 1961,

16 claims. (cl. 131-1o9) The present invention relates to themanufacture of tobacco-containing products in general, and morepartic-ularly to an apparatus for transferring metered (i.e., measuredor predetermined) quantities of tobacco from one or more tobacco sourcesto one or more tobacco processing machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which iscapable of transmitting metered quantities of tobacco to two or moretobacco processing machines without it being necessary to idle certainmachines because of insufficient supply of tobacco.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theabove described type which is capable of conveyin-g requisite meteredquantities of tobacco to a given tobacco processing machine withinextremely short periods of time constituting but a fraction of the timenecessary for delivering equal quantities of tobacco with conventionalyapparatus of which I am aware at this time.

A concomitant object of the instant invention is to provide an apparatuswhich is capable of selectively delivering the same type or two or moredifferent types of tobacco to one or more tobacco processing machines,which is capable of delivering accurately metered quantities of tobaccoin a fully automatic way, and wherein tobacco particles are subjected tothe action of atmospheric air for very short periods of time so that aircannot affect or affects only negligibly the moisture content ofconveyed tobacco particles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theabove outlined characteristics which is capable of blending two or moretypes of tob-acco prior to transferring blended tobacco to one or moretobacco processing machines.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel method ofrapidly transferring metered quantities of tobacco to one or moretobacco processing machines.

In its basic form, the apparatus of my invention comprises at least onesource of tobacco, means deiining at least one chamber adapted toaccommodate a metered quantity of tobacco, means for withdrawing fromthe source metered quantities of tobacco and for transferring meteredquantities of tobacco into the chamber, and means for conveying eachmetered quantity of tobacco from the chamber to the tobacco processingmachine.

The invention will be best understood upon perusal of the followingdetailed description of certain speciiic embodiments with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an apparatus which embodies myinvention, certa-in portions of the apparatus being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the apparatus as seen in thedirection of the arrow X in FIG. 1, certain portions of the apparatusbeing shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the front part of the apparatus as seen inthe direction of the arrow Y in FIG. 2, the portion above the conveyer60 in FIGURE 2 being omitted;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the control system of theapparatus;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a detail of the controlsystem; l

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front elevational view of a distributor whichforms part of the apparatus shown in FIGS. l to 3, certain portions ofthe distributor being shown in section;

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary detail elevational view of thedistributor, showing in sectional view a limit switch associated withone of the pneumatic conveyers and a cam which operates the limitswitch, the cam being shown in a position it assumes just before itslobe trips the limit switch; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the structure of FIG. '7 in a differentposition in which the cam lobe engages and trips the limit switch.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, and rst to FIGS. 1 to3, there is shown an apparatus for transferring metered quantities oftobacco to a series of tobacco processing machines. It is assumed thatthe machines are cigarette making machines and that the apparatus ofFIGS. 1 to 3 is arranged to supply shredded tobacco to four suchmachines -at certain intervals whereby the frequency at Which a machinereceives fresh supplies of tobacco depends on the capacity of themagazines in these machines, on the nature of tobacco-containingproducts which are being manufactured therein, etc.

The apparatus comprises eight tobacco sources which are idisposed in twogroups 10, 216l respectively including four superimposed sources 11-14and 211-214. 'I'he construction of tobacco sources 11-14 in the group 10is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, and the construction of tobaccosources in the other group 210 is analogous. The sources 11-14 of thegroup 10 assume the form of containers or troughs which have a commoncasing 10a and which are respectively provided with movable bottoms 15,17, 19 and 21. For example, the bottom 15 constitutes the upper run ofan endless conveyer whose front end turn is formed by a combined drivingand deecting roller 15a cooperating with a tensioning roll 15b. Theoutlet of the trough 11 is normally closed lby a spiked or toothed wheel16 whose spikes extend into close proximity of the roller 15a so as tonormally prevent escape of tobacco which is stored in the trough 11 andwhich rests on the movable -bottom 15. The lower troughs 12, 13, 14respectively cooperate with spiked wheels 18, 20 and 22.` As shown, thewheel 181 is in the process of withdrawing Ia metered quantity ofshredded tobacco from the supply 23 supported by the movable bottom 17of the second uppermost trough 12, and this wheel is assisted by a pairof bladed roller combs or wheels 24, 25 which remove all such strands orfragments that extend beyond the spikes 18a of the wheel 18 so that thelatter withdraws a layer or fleece of loose tobacco which forms -amantle thereabout and that the quantity of loosened tobacco withdrawnfrom the supply 23` may be controlled by regulating the rotational speedand the dur-ation of rotation of the spiked wheel 18. When the wheel 18is driven, the bottom 17 is simultaneously caused to advance -in adirection to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, to make sure that the teeth18a may remove from the supply 23 equal quantities` of tobacco, i.e.that the supply advances toward the wheel 18 at `the s-arne rate atwhich tobacco in loose particulate form is With- Idrawn from the trough12. The wheels 18, 24, 25 together constitute means for withdrawingmetered quantities of loose tobacco from the trough 12, and the othertroughs are provided with analogous tobacco withdrawing means includingthe aforementioned wheels 16, 20 and 22.

Of course, the wheels 16, 18, 20, 22 may be replaced by so-called rakewheels or by other suitable means Patented Mar. 28, 1967" tration.

Vend of the vmovable lbottom 19. `26 of the wheel 20. carries a pulley27 which transmits capable f withdrawing tobacco from a stack in such away that the withdrawn tobacco is loose and that the quantities oftobacco to be withdrawn from the stack contained lin the respectivetrough may be regulated with suhcient accuracy. For example, each spikedwheel may be replaced by a suitable conveyer whose endless band is thenprovided with teeth, claws, spikes or other comminuting and entrainngmeans. All such modi-tications are so obvious that they require noseparate illus- It will be noted that the roller comb 24 is locatedclose to the level of the supply 23 and that the Vothercomb 25 islocated at the downstream side of the A,cornlb 24.

The spiked wheels and the combined deflecting and driving rollers of therespective troughs are coupled to each other by belt-and-pulleyarrangements one of which Vis Vshown -in FIG. 2. This belt-and-pulleyarrangement couples the spiked wheel 20 which is associated with thetrough 13 to the deflecting roller 19a located at the front As shown,the shaft motion to a pulley 30 through an endless ybelt 28. The pulley30 is connected to the shaft 29 of the roller 19a, andit will be notedthat the drive 27, 28, 30 constitutes a step-down transmission which-drives lthe shaft 29 at a speed lower than the speed of the shaft 26and whose ratio is selected with a view to synchronize the forwardmovement of shredded tobacco stacked on the movable bottom 19 with thespeed of the spiked wheel 20' to insure that the spikesfof this wheelwill withdraw tobacco at a uniform rate when the shaft 26 is driven atconstant speed.

The shaft 32 of the spiked wheel 16 associated with the uppermost trough11 of the group 10 is driven by an electric motor 38. The spiked wheel13 and the deflecting roller 17a of the trough 12 are intermittentlydriven lby amagnetic clutch 39 which latter is mounted on the drivershaft 36, and by a beltand-pulley arrangement 42 which is analo-gous tothe `belt-and-pulley arrangement 3\1,i 33,34. A third magnetic clutch 40and v.a third belt-and-pulley arrangement 43 drive the wheel 20 and thedeflecting roller 19a of the tray 13, and a furfther drive meansincluding an electromagnetic clutch 41 and a belt-and-pulley arrangement44 drives the wheel 22 and the deflecting roller 21a of the lowermosttrough 14. Tobacco which is withdrawn -by the uppermost spiked wheels16, 18 drops onto a take-off conveyer 50 whose discharge end is locatedabove a supply conveyer 60. Tobacco which is withdrawn by `the wheels2i), 22 drops onto the upper run of a second take-off conveyer 51 whichdischarges onto a secondsupply conveyer 61.

Thegroup 210 of tobacco sources 2li-214 is arranged in mirror symmetrywith respect to the groupand its construction is identical with theconstruction of the group 10. FIG. 1 illustrates only a few componentparts ofthe group 210 including the casing 21M, the movable )bottom y215and the spiked wheels 216 of the uppermost -ments 242, 243, 244respectively associated with the three lowerspiked wheels, the take-offconveyers 250, 251 which ,respectively receive loose tobacco withdrawnfrom the Atroughs 211, 212 and 213, 214, and the supply conveyers 260,261 which respectively receive tobacco from the conveyers 250, 251.

The provision of two symmetrically arranged groups 10, 2 10 renders itpossible to reduce the overall dimensions of the apparatus even thoughthe apparatus comprises a large number of tobacco sources.V Owing to thefact that the sources 11-14 and 211-214 are superimposed, they occupycomparatively little space.

The take-off conveyers 50, 51 and 250, 251 are driven by an electricmotor 52 (FIGS. l and 2) which operates a belt-and-pulley arrangement 53whose driven pulley is mounted on an intermediate shaft 54 carried by aplatform F forming part of the apparatus frame and located between thegroups 10, 21d. The conveyers 5t?, 51, 25), 251 are respectivelyoperated by belt-andpulley arrangements 55, `56, 255, 256 each of whichh-as a driver pulley mounted on the intermediate shaft 54 and a drivenpulley drivingly connected with the front deflecting roller of therespective conveyer. The arrows shown in FIG. 2 indicate the directionsin which the conveyers 50', 51 are driven.

The supply conveyers 60, 61, 260, 261 lare driven b y a third electricmotor 62 which is mounted on the platform F and which operates Vthebelt-and-pulley `arrangements 63, 263 for the conveyers 60, 260',respectively."

Additional belt-and-pulley arrangements 66, 266 respectively connect theconveyers 60', 260 with the conveyers 61, 261 (see FIG. 1).

The electric circuits of the motors 38, 52, 62 preferably remaincompleted as long as the -apparatus is in use, i.e. the driver shaft 36which carries the clutches 35, 235, 39, 239, 40, 240, 41, 241, thetake-Gif conveyers 59, 51, 250, 251 and the supply conveyers 60, 61,260, 261 may be driven without interruption as long as the tobaccoprocessing machines associated with the appara.

tus of my invention are in actual use. This is of advantage because theelectric circuitry of the apparatus `is simplified, but it will bereadily understoodthat the motors 38, 52, 62 may be operatedintermittently, if desired. For example, the motors 52,62 may beoperated at desired intervals so as to arrest the take-off conveyers 50,51, 250, 251 and the supply conveyers 60, 61, 260, 261 shortly after thespiked wheel or wheels associated with the troughs 11-14 and `211-214-are arrested, i.e. as soon as metered quantitiesof loose tobaccowithdrawn from one or more troughs in the lgroup 10 or 210 are caused toadvance beyond the discharge ends of the supply conveyers.

The supply conveyers 60,61, 260, 261 discharge loose tobacco into astationary hopper or chute 90' (FIG. 1') Which is located between thegroups 10', 210 at a level below the platform F. The hopper has adischarge -opening 90a which is bounded by downwardly extendingconverging side walls 91, 92 to discharge tobacco into a distributor 70which is mounted below the hopper and whose function is to cooperatewith pneumatic conveyers which deliver metered quantities of tobacco tothe tobacco processing machines. The stator of the distributor 70`comprises a ground-contacting base 71, a pair of spaced end walls 72,73 (FIG. 3) which constitute bearing plates for the -shaft 75 of -arotor 74 which latter is provided with radially outwardly `openingaxially parallel chambers or cells 81-89. The rotortshaft 75 is drivenby a motor 76 (FIGS. 3 and 4) through a train of reducing gears 77, 78.The hollow cylindrical stator mantle 79 of the distributor 70l isprovided with an elongated intake opening 79a which is aligned with thedischarge opening 90a of the hopper 90. The width of the intake opening7911 equals the width of the chambers 81-89 and the open outer sides ofall chambers, excepting the one (S1) momentarily aligned with thedischarge opening 90a of the hopper 90, are sealed by the mantle 79. Theside walls 91, 92 of the hopper 90 terminate immediately above themantle 79 so as to prevent spilling of tobacco. The hopper 90 furthercomprises a pair of spaced end walls 93, 94 (see FIG. 3) which arerespectively adjacent to 1but inwardly spaced from the end walls 73, 72,i.e. the length of the discharge opening 90a in the bottom zone of thehopper 90, -as viewed in theaxialdirection of the distributor 70, issomewhat less than the length of a chamber in the rotor 74. Thus, loosetobacco descending by gravity through the discharge end 90a of thedownwardly converging hopper 90 cannot spill around the distributor butis compelled to enter a selected chamber of the rotor 74, i.e thatchamber (81 in FIG. 1) which is momentarily aligned with the intakeopening 79a.

The mantle 79 of the distributor 7G supports a cornpressing orcompacting member in the form of a tamping head 95 which is formed witha concave compacting face 96 with a radius of curvature substantiallycorresponding to the radius of the rotor 74. The compacting member 95 ispivotably supported in a bracket 79b (FIG. 6) carried vby the statormantle 79 so as to turn about a horizontal axle 79C which is parallelwith the rotor shaft 75. The compacting face 96 is adapted to travel inan arc between the idle or retracted position (shown in full lines inFIGS. 1 and 6) and an operative position 95 (shown in phantom lines inFIG. 6) in which it projects through -a lateral slot in the side wall 92of the hopper 90 and closes the intake opening 79a so as to compress -apredetermined quantity of tobacco (contained in part in the momentarilyaligned cham-ber 81 and in part in the lower zone of the hopper 90) insuch a way that the tobacco is transformed into a coherent body or batchwhich fills the ch-amber 81. The length of the compacting face 96, asviewed in the axial direction of the distributor 70, equals the distancebetween the end walls 93, 94 of the hopper.

The means for moving the compacting member 95 comprises a plunger typesolenoid 172 whose reciprocable plunger 171 is articulately connectedwith an arm 170 secured to the compacting member 95 so that, when thenormally energized coil of the solenoid 172 is deenergized, thecompacting member 95 pivots by gr-avity about the axle 79C in adirection to advance the compacting face 96 into the hopper and towardthe chamber 81. When the coil of the solenoid 172 is energized, itwithdraws the plunger 171 and thereby causes the compacting member 95 toreturn to the solid-line position of FIG. 6.

The compacting member 95 is formed with a cam face 96a which is adjacentto the compacting face 96 and which engages a trip 97 forming part of anelectric starter switch 80 when the member 95 assumes the solid-lineposition of FIG. 6, i.e. when the compacting member is in idle position.The normally closed starter switch 80 is connected in the circuit of themotor 76, and the arrangement is such that the motor 76 is startedwhenever the cam face 96a engages and lifts the trip 97 upon return ofthe compacting member from the phantom-line position of FIG, 6 to thesolid-line idle position of FIG. 1 or 6.

The end wall 73 of the stator is formed with apertures 102-109 (FIG. 3)which respectively communicate with frustoconical connecting nipples122-129 forming part of a pneumatic conveying system `and in turncommunicating with pneumatic conveyer tubes 132-139 which connect theapparatus of my invention with the tobacco processing machines. Theother end wall 72 of the rotor 74 is provided with apertures or cutouts142-149 (FIG. 6) which are respectively aligned with the apertures102-109 4and which communicate with air drawing pipes 152-159 each ofwhich is provided with a set of swirl vanes 160.

The end wall 72 carries eight limit switches 112-119, one for each ofthe apertures 142-149, and each of these limit switches is radiallyaligned with the respective aperture. The switches 112-119 may betripped by the lobe 121 of a cam disk 120 which is loosely supported onand is normally rotatable with respect to the rotor shaft 75. The meansfor selectively coupling the cam disk 120 with the rotor shaft 75comprises an electromagnetic cl-utch 131 (see FIG. 4), and the cam disk120 is permanently biased by a helical torsion spring 174 (FIGS. 7 and8) which tends to rotate the cam disk in a direction counter to thedirection in which the rotor 74 is driven by the Vmotor 76 (arrow 177 inFIG. 6) so that the lobe 121 normally abuts against a stop 141 which islocated below the intake -opening 79a of the mantle 79. One end of thetorsion spring 174 is convoluted about a pin 175 provided on the stop141 and the other end of this spring is convoluted about a similar pin176 provided on the cam disk 12). The spring forms one or moreconvolutions about a collar 124m which forms part of the disk (see FIGS.7 and 8).

FIG. 4 illustrates the control system which operates the parts of theapparatus of FIGS. l to 3 in a predetermined sequence. It is assumedthat the apparatus cooperates with four tobacco processing machines andthat the pairs of troughs 11-12, 13-14, 211-212, 213-214 respectivelycontain identical types of tobacco. For example, these four pairs oftroughs may contain four different brands of shredded tobacco which isready to be used in the manufacture of ciga-rettes with or without ltertips. The tobacco contained in the troughs 11, 12 is intended fordelivery to the machine No. 4 (e.g., a conventional cigarette machine)which is shown schematically in FIG. 4 and includes an impulsegenerating means in the form of a photoelectric eye E. The controlsystem of FIG. 4 comprises a signal storing device S which is connectedwith four signal transmitting conductors 301, 302, 303, 364 each ofwhich transmits signals from a tobacco processing machine, i.e. from thephotoelectric eye of the respective machine. The signal storing device Sis connected with four additional signal transmitting conductors 305-308which are utilized in the event that each of the troughs 11-14 and211-214 should deliver tobacco to a diterent machine, i.e. in the eventthat the apparatus of my invention is connected wtih eight tobaccoprocessing machines. Conductors 311-318 connect the signal storingdevice S with a 4programming device P which is connected with eightcontrol lines SI1-Sts leading to electromagnets (not shown) provided inthe pneumatic conveyers of the tobacco processing machines. FIG. 4illustrates only the electromagnet M which is mounted in the deliverybox B of the machine No. 4. The box B is located at one end of thepneumatic conveyer tube and communicates with a pipe 135a leading to anair evacuating device 135]). The pipe 135a accommodates a buttery valveD, the latter normally sealing the box B from the device 135b. Thisvalve is under the bias of a spring 135C which maintains it in sealingposition, and the purpose of the magnet M is to open the valve D atcertain intervals so that a coherent body or batch -of tobacco formed in-a selected chamber of the rotor 74 may be conveyed to the respectivetobacco processing machine (that is, to the machine No. 4 which isconnected with the distributor 70 by the pneumatic conveyer tube 135).

Control lines Schl-Sch., connect the programming device P with theelectromagnetic clutches 35, 39, 40, 41, 235, 239, 249, 241 of whichonly the clutches 35, 39 are shown in FIG. 4 because they control thedelivery of tobacco from the troughs 11, 12 which are assumed to supplytobacco to the machine No. 4. The operative connection between theelectromagnetic clutches 35, 39 and the programing device P includes atimer relay Z and a changeover switch U which latter alternatelyconnects the timer relay with the clutch 35 or 39. It is assumed thatthe clutch 39 is connected with the timer relay Z so that the trough 12delivers tobacco to the machine No. 4. In the meantime, the trough 11 isbeing refilled with tobacco to avoid unnecessary delays at the time thesupply of tobacco in the trough 12 is exhausted. The changeover switch Umay be operated manually or in a fully automatic way, for example, byproviding a connection between the trough 12 and the switch U so as toautomatically change the position of this switch when the supply oftobacco in the trough 12 is exhausted.

The timer relay Z is connected with the solenoid 172 7 which controlsthe` movements of the compacting member- 95.

The control system of FIG. 4 lfurther comprises a register` R of eightrelays R1-R8 which are connected with the programming device P byimpulse input lines I1-I3 which are connected to gro-und. The number ofrelays in the register R corresponds to the maximum number of machineswhich can be supplied with tobacco by the apparatus of FIGS. 1-3. Oneend of the coil in each of the relays Rl-RS is connected to one terminal173 of a source of direct current, and the other end of each relay coilin the register R is connected with the ground through the correspondingholding contacts H1- HS and through the corresponding limit switches112-119 (see FIG. 5

The electromagnet of the clutch 131 is connected in parallel with themotor 76. The operating contacts of the relays R1-R8 in the register Rare connected in parallel with each other and in series with theoperating c-ontacts of the switch 80. The holding contacts Hl-HS of therelays Rl-RS are connected in series with the respective-limit switches,and each limit switch and the associated holding contact is connected inparallel with an impulse transmitting switch Is of the programmingdevice P. The impulse transmitting switch Is which is associated withthe limit switch 112 and with the holding contact H1 is shown in FIG. 5.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

As stated hereinabove, each tobacco processing machine is equipped witha photoelectric eye or cell E which transmits a signal through therespective conductor to the signal storing device S. The latter storesthe impulses and transmits them to the programming device immediatelyupon completion of an operation in the same sequence in which they arereceived. In the position of the control system -as shown in FIG. 4, themachine No. 4 isready to receivetobacco from the trough 12 because thechangeover switch U connects the timer relay Z with the clutch 39 whichdrives the belt-and-pulley arrangement 42 for the spiked wheel 18 andthe deflecting roller 17a of the trough 12. The machine No. 4 receivesbatches of tobacco through the pneumatic conveyer pipe 135, i.e. thecompacted batch of tobacco formed in the chamber 81 (FIG. 1) must bemoved by the rotor 74 so as to assume the position occupied in FIG. 1 or6 by the chamber 85.

The phot-oelectric cell E transmits an impulse through the conductor 304so that the impulse is received by the impulse storing device S whichthen transmits the impulse through theconductor 314k and to theprogramming device P. Of course, the device S transmits impulses to theprogramming device in the same sequence in which the impulses arereceived. The device P thereupon initiates Va series of operations,namely:

The 'clutch 39 is energized through the timer relay Z so that thisclutch now rotates with the -driver shaft 36 and transmits rotary motionto the belt-and-pulley arrangement 42. Thus, the bottom 17 `and thespiked wheel 18 of the trough 12 are set in motion whereby the wheel 18,in cooperation with the roller combs 24 an-d 25, withdraws a fleece oftobacco from the supply 23 and delivers a metered quantity of loosetobacco onto the upper run of the take-off conveyor 50. This conveyerdelivers tobacco ronto t-he supply conveyer 60 which dumps loose tobaccointo the hopper 90 so that tobacco may descend so that the wheel 18 mayremove a metered quantity of loose tobacco from the stack 23 in thetrough 12.

At the time is deenergizes the clutch 39, the timer relay automaticallyinterrupts the supply of voltage to the coil of the solenoid 172 so thatthe coil releases the plunger 171 and the compacting member 95 is freeto drop into the hopper 9i) to compact tobacco in the chamber y81 and toform a body or batch of coherent particles which contains a meteredquant-ity of tobacco. The interruption of supply of vvoltage to the coilof the solenoid 172 is of very short duration so that the reenergizedcoil rapidly withdraws the plunger 171 and returns the compacting member95 to the position of FIG. 1 or the solid line position of 6.

At the same time, the impulse transmitting switches is energize therelays Rl-RS in the register R and these relays remain energized becausethe holding contacts P11-H8 and the limit switches 112-1119 are closed(FIG. 5). When the compacting member 95 returns to the position of FIG.l or t-he solid line position of 6, its face 96a actuates the trip 97and closes the starter switch 812 whereby the latterstarts the motor '76which rotates the rotor 74 through such an angle that the chamber 81 islmoved -to the position occupied in FIG. 6 by the chamber 85 in whichthe chamber 81 is aligned with the intake nipple 125 of the tube 135.The switch -80 also comlpletes the circuit of the electromagnetic clutch131 so that the latter connects the cam disk 120 with the rotor shaft 75whereby the cam disk participates in angular isplacement of the chamber81. The circuit of the mo- -tor 76 and of the clutch 131 is completed assoon as the operating contacts of the switch Sti are closed by the camface 96a of the compacting member 95.

When the clutch 131 connect-s the cam disk 120 with the -sharft 75 andthe motor '76 drives the rotor 74, the cam disk rotates lagainst thebias of the torsion spring 174 and its lobe 121 consecutively opens thelimit switches 1112-119 so asto open the circuits of the relays R1-R8.When the limit switch 115 opens the circuit of the relay R4, the circuitof the motor 76 and of the clutch 131 is interrupted so that the rotor74 remains in an angular position in which the chamber 81 is alignedwith the tube 135, but the spring 174 immediately returns the cam disky120 to its initial position in which the lobe 121 abuts against thestop y141 because the clutch 131 is deenergized and the disk 120 is freeto rotate under the bias of the spring 174 and with respect to thelrotor shaft 75.

The pipe 135er is maintained at subatmospheric pressure, whereas thepipe 135 is free to communicate with the atmosphere so that, as soon asthe programming device P energizes the magnet M through the respectivecontrol line St4, the magnet M opens the valve D against the bias of thespring 135e and the batch of tobacco contained in the aligned chamber 81is automatically transferred into the delivery box B off the machine No.4. The device P transmits an operating impulse to the magnet M as soonas the angular movement of the rotor 74 is completed.

The delivery of tobacco to the machine No. 4 is now completed and theapparatus is ready ffor the next delivery. For example, the sig-nalstoring device S might have received a signal from the photoelectriccell of t-he machine No. 2 (not shown) which is assumed to requiretobacco stored in the troughs 13, 14. The programming device P thencompletes the circuits of the relays R1, R2 and the operation isrepeated in the sa-me manner as described above, i.e. the chamber 86(which is moved into .alignment with the discharge opening 90a of thehopper 90 when the chamber 81 is aligned with the tube 135) is lled withtobacco withdrawn from the trough 113 or 14, and this chamber 86 isthereupon moved into alignment with the nipple 123 of the tube 133.

Referring back to FIG. 6, it will be noted that the total number ofchambers `Sil-89 exceeds by one the total number of pneumatic conveyertubes 132-139. Consequently, one of the tobacco-receiving chambers is=always aligned with the discharge opening 90a of the hopper 90 :andwith the intake opening 79a of the mantle 79, i.e. the motor 76 need notbe of the reversible type since it is suicient to return the cam disk1Z0 to its initial position subsequent to each conveying step. Forexample, after the chamber 81 is rotated to assume the position occupiediby the chamber 35 of FIG. 6, the `chamber 86 moves into alignment withthe intake opening 79a to receive the next batch of tobacco. Of course,it is equally possible to provide the rotor 74 with a s-ingletobaccoreceiving chamber and to return the single chamber into alignmentwith the intake opening 79a after each conveying operation. Suc-hdistributor then requires some means for returning the rotor to itsstarting position as soon as the motor 76 is arrested, or the motor ofthe distributor 70 must be replaced by a different motor which can turnthe rotor in clockwise and -anticlockwise directions or which is broughtto a temporary halt when the single chamber is aligned with a selectedpneumatic conveyer pipe 4and which thereupon continues to turn the rotorso that the latter completes a full revolution.

Of course, each pneumatic conveyor tube connected to the end Wall '73 ofthe stator forming part of the distributor 70 may have one or morebranches so that it may be utilized for conveying batches of compactedtobacco to two or more tobacco processing machines.

The apparatus of my invention is equally useful for blending two or moretypes of tobacco during delivery of tobacco into the hopper 90. Thus,the electric control system of FIG. 4 may be modified in a sense topermit simultaneous withdrawal of tobacco from two or more troughs ifthe nature `of tobacco products manufactured in the processing machinesis such that the products consist of blended tobacco.

Analogously, it is equally possible to consecutively withdraw tobaccofrom two yor more sources so as to fill the rotor chambers with ametered quantity -of tobacco formed by two or more layers consisting ofdifferent tobacco types. The hopper 90 may accommodate a suitable mixingdevice which blends two 'or more types of loose tobacco while thetobacco particles descend into the uppermost chamber of the rotor 74.All such and many other modilications will readily `occur to men skilledin this `art upon perusal of the above description.

Finally, it is equally possible to till the chambers of rotor '74-without awaiting signals from the respective processing machines sothat, as soon as a signal for turning the rotor 74 is received, themachine may immediately receive a batch of tobacco when the signal isconveyed to the control system of the respective pneumatic conveyor. Animportant advantage of such operation is that it further reduces thetime necessary for supplying the machines with metered quantities ofcompacted tobacco.

if desired, the hopper 90 may receive a new supply of loose tobacco assoon as a filled chamber is moved out of alignment with the dischargeopening 90a.

The apparatus of my invention is especially useful in tobacco processingplants in which it is necessary to switch frequently from themanufacture of a given brand to the manufacture of one or moreldifferent brands. For example, many cigarette manufacturers produce aseries of different brands. By utilizing the apparatus of my invention,the manufacturer can rapidly set up one or more machines while the othermachines remain in operation, or he may simultaneously operate a seriesof machines each of which produces a different brand of cigarettes,cigars, cigarillos or other tobacco-containing products. As far as I aminformed at this time, the apparatus of my invention is the first of itssort which is capable of transferring metered quantities of tobacco fromone or more sources to -a large number of tobacco processing machines.

If the apparatus of my invention is utilized for supplying tobacco toeight processing machines, and if the apparatus should comprise twotobacco sources for each processing machine, the structure of FIGS. 1 to3 may be modified by adding a third group of four superimposed troughsat the left-hand side of the group 10 and by adding a fourth group offour superimposed troughs at the right-hand side of the group 210.V Insuch apparatus, the supply conveyors 60, 61 and 26), 261 must bereplaced by longer conveyors so that they -rnay respectively receivetobacco from the third and fourth groups of troughs. Of course, and asmentioned hereinabove, the apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 may be used to supplytobacco to eight machines if each machine receives tobacco from a singlesource, or if two or more machines utilize the same tobacco brand (eg.tobacco stored in the troughs 11, 12 or 13, 14 or 211, 212 or 213, 214).

The volumes of the chambers 81-89 may but need not be the same, i.e.each chamber may receive a different metered quantity of tobacco. t

A very important advantage of my -apparatus is that the tobaccoparticles are subjected to the drying or moistening action 'ofsurrounding atmospheric and/or conveying air for very short periods oftime, i.e. loose tobacco particles are surrounded by air only duringtheir advance from the respective source to the hopper 90. The batchesof compacted tobacco particles which are formed in the chambers 81-89are sealed from the atmosphere all the way to the sluices of therespective tobacco processing machines. In addition, even if thepneumatic conveyers of my improved apparatus are operated by compressedair, such air can contact only the tobacco particles which form theoutermost layers of the batches formed in the rotor chambers.

Another very important advantage of the improved apparatus is that thetime necessary for transfer of metered quantities lof tobacco to thetobacco processing machines is reduced to a minimum since it takes onlya few seconds to advance a batch of coherent tobacco particles from therotor 74 to the delivery box B of the respective machine. Consequently,the apparatus may be equipped with a single hopper and with a singledistributor even though it can feed a large number of machines. Theadvantage resulting from shortened delivery time from a selected sourceto a selected machine will be readily understood if one considers that,for certain reasons, the machine must be at a standstill while itreceives a new supply of tobacco. Thus, if the time necessary fordeliverrng a metered quantity of tobacco to a processing machine isreduced to a few seconds, the machine may be operated nearlycontinuously, in contrast to machines which receive tobacco in the formof streams consisting of loose tobacco particles since it is obviousthat more time is necessary to transfer a stream of loose tobaccoparticles.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpomt of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristrcs of the generic and specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalen-ce of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. an apparatus for consecutively transferring metered quantltles oftobacco to a plurality of tobacco processing machines, comprising atleast one source of tobacco; a distributor having stator means formedwith intake opening means -and intermittently rotating rotor meansrotatably received in said stator means, said rotor means having aplurality of radially outwardly opening tobaccoreceiving chambersarranged to be aligned in sequence with said intake opening means inresponse to intermittent rotation of said rotor means; a plurality ofpneumatic conveyers, one for each tobacco processing machine, said"Vmachines, comprising at least one source of tobacco; a

distributor having stator means formed with intake opening means andintermittently rotating rotor means rotatably received in said statormeans, said rotor means having a plurality of radially outwardly openingtobaccoreceiving chambers arranged to be aligned in sequence with saidintake opening means in response to intermittent rotation of said rotormeans; a plurality of pneumatic conveyers, one for each tobaccoprocessing machine, said conveyers being communicatively connected withsaid stator means; means comprising rotary spiked wheel means forintermittently withdrawing metered quantities of tobacco from saidsource; means for intermittently rotating said wheel means; means fortransferring such metered quantities of tobacco withdrawn by said wheelmeans through said intake opening means and into the momentarily alignedchamber to fill the same; and means for intermittently rotating saidrotor means so as to align lled tobacco-containing chambers with saidconveyers preparatory to transfer of tobacco to the respective `tobaccoprocessing machines.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said source comprises atobacco-containing trough having an outlet adjacent to said wheel meansand including movable tobacco-supporting bottom means, and furthercomprising means for intermittently moving said bottom means so as toadvance tobacco contained `in said trough toward said wheel means.

4. An apparatus for consecutively transferring metered quantities oftobacco to a plurality of tobacco processing machines, comprising atleast one source of tobacco; a distributor having stator means formedwith intake opening means and intermittently rotating rotor meansrotatably received in said stator means, said rotor means having aplurality of radially outwardly opening tobaccoreceiving chambersincluding a chamber for each of said machines and said chambers beingarranged to be aligned in sequence with said intake opening means inresponse to intermittent rotation of said rotor means; a plurality ofpneumatic conveyers, one for each tobacco processing machine, saidconveyers being communicatively connected with said stator means; meansfor intermittently withdrawing metered quantities of tobacco from saidsource and for transferring such metered quantities of tobacco throughsaid intake opening means and into the momentarily aligned chamber to llthe same; and means for intermittently rotating said rotor means so asto align filled tobacco-containing chambers with said conveyerspreparatory to transfer of tobacco to the respective tobacco processingmachines.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the number of chambersin said rotor means exceeds by one the number of pneumatic conveyers sothat a chamber is always aligned with said intake opening means when theother chambers are aligned with the respective conveyers.

6. An apparatus for consecutively transferring metered quantities oftobacco to a plurality of tobacco processing machines, comprising atleast one source of tobacco; a distributor having stator means having atop portion formed with intake opening means and intermittently rotatingrotor means rotatably received in said stator means,

said rotor means having a plurality of radially outwardly openingtobacco-receiving chambers arranged to be aligned in sequence with saidintake opening means in response to intermittent rotation of said rotormeans; a plurality of pneumatic conveyers, one for each tobaccoprocessing machine, said conveyers being communicatively connected withsaid stator means; means for intermittently withdrawing meteredquantities of tobacco from said source; means located above said statormeans for transferring such metered quantities of tobacco from saidwithdrawing means through said intake opening means and into themomentarily aligned chamber to lill the same; and means for`intermittently rotating said rotor means so as to align filledtobacco-containing chambers with said conveyers preparatory to transferof tobacco to the respective tobacco processing machines.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said transferring meanscomprises a hopper having discharge opening means aligned with saidintake opening means, supply conveyer means for delivering tobacco tosaid hopper, take-off conveyer means for delivering tobacco from saidwithdrawing means to said supply conveyel means, and means for drivingsaid supply conveyer means and said take-olf conveyer means.

8. An apparatus for transferring metered quantities of tobacco to atleast one tobacco processing machine, comprising at least one source oftobacco; means defining at least one chamber adapted to accommodate ametered quantity of tobacco; means for withdrawing tobacco in the formof loose particles from said source; means comprising a hopper fortransferring the tobacco particles into said chamber so that the chambercontains a metered quantity of tobacco; means comprising -a movablecompacting member for compressing the metered quantity of tobacco insaid chamber so as to form a body of coherent compacted tobaccoparticles; means for intermittently moving said compacting member; andpneumatic conveyer means for advancing the body of coherent tobaccoparticles from said chamber to the tobacco processing machine.

9. An apparatus for consecutively transferring metered quantities oftobacco to a plurality of tobacco processing machines, comprising atleast one source of tobacco; a distributor having stator means formedwith intake opening means and intermittently rotating rotor meansrotatably received in said stator means, said rotor means having aplurality of radially outwardly opening tobaccoreceiving chambersarranged to be aligned in sequence with said intake opening means inresponse to intermittent rotation of said rotor means; a plurality ofpneumatic conveyers, one for each tobacco processing machine, saidconvey-ers being communicatively connected with said stator means; meansfor intermittently withdrawing metered quantities of tobacco from saidsource; means comprising a hopper having a discharge opening alignedwith said intake opening means for transferring metered quantities oftobacco from said withdrawing means through said intake opening meansand into the momentarily aligned chamber to iill the same; meanscomprising electric motor means for intermittently rotating said rotormeans so as to align filled tobacco-containing chambers with saidconveyers preparatory to transfer of tobacco to the respective tobaccoprocessing machines; starter switch means connected in the circuit ofsaid motor means; means comprising a compacting member movably mountedadjacent to said hopper and extendable into said intake opening meansfor compressing tobacco contained -in the momentarily aligned chamber sothat the tobacco forms a batch of coherent tobacco particles; means formoving said compacting member toward and away from said intake openingmeans; and means provided on said compacting member for tripping saidswitch means and for starting said motor means when the compactingmember is moved away from said intake opening means.

10. An apparatus for transferring metered quantities of tobacco to aplurality of tobacco processing machines, comprising `at least onesource of tobacco; withdrawing means for intermittently withdrawingmetered quantities of tobacco from said source; a plurality of pneumaticconveyers, one for each of said machines :and each adapted to conveymetered quantities of compacted tobacco to the respective machine;distributor means located between said withdrawing means and saidconveyers for selectively distributing metered quantities of tobacco tosaid conveyers; chamber means associated with said distributor means;and compacting means associated with said distributor means and withsaid chamber means for compacting metered quantities of tobacco in saidchamber means upon receipt of such metered quantities from saidwithdrawing means and prior to delivery of compacted tobacco to saidconveyers.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, comprising a plurality ofsources and separate withdrawing means for each source.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said withdrawingmeans comprises removing means for removing tobacco from said sources,hopper means arranged to feed tobacco into said chamber means, andconveyer means for delivering tobacco from said removing means to saidhopper means.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim l0, wherein each of said machinescomprises a receptacle which receives compacted tobacco from therespective conveyer.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said distributormeans comprises stator means having an intake `opening andintermittently rotating rotor means received in said stator means, saidchamber means comprising. a plurality of chambers provided in said rotormeans and each of said chambers being movable into a 14 rst position ofregistry with said intake opening so as to receive a metered quantity oftobacco from said withdrawing means and into a second position ofregistry with selected conveyer means.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said compacting meanscomprises a compacting member movable into and from said intake openingto compact tobacco in that chamber which registers with said opening.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein the number of -saidchambers exceeds the number of said conveyers and wherein one Iof saidchambers is aligned with said opening during each interval betweenintermittent y rotations of said rotor means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 850,921 4/1907Georgili 131-74 X 930,395 8/1909 Lindelof 131-74 1,912,598 6/1933Snadden 131--237 1,941,429 12/ 1933 Berger. 1,952,336 3/1934 Schneider131-110 X 1,984,980 12/1934 Muller 131-108 1,999,120 4/1935 Werner131--108 2,983,275 5/1961 Volcker 131-110 X 2,989,964 6/ 1961 Willett131-237 FOREIGN PATENTS 44,831 10/ 1931 Denmark. 459,765 9/ 1913 France.365,453 1/ 1932 Great Britain.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Examiner.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CONSECUTIVELY TRANSFERRING METERED QUANTITIES OFTOBACCO TO A PLURALITY OF TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES, COMPRISING ATLEAST ONE SOURCE OF TOBACCO; A DISTRIBUTOR HAVING STATOR MEANS FORMEDWITH INTAKE OPENING MEANS AND INTERMITTENTLY ROTATING ROTOR MEANSROTATABLY RECEIVED IN SAID STATOR MEANS, SAID ROTOR MEANS HAVING APLURALITY OF RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OPENING TOBACCORECEIVING CHAMBERSARRANGED TO BE ALIGNED IN SEQUENCE WITH SAID INTAKE OPENING MEANS INRESPONSE TO INTERMITTENT ROTATION OF SAID ROTOR MEANS; A PLURALITY OFPNEUMATIC CONVEYERS, ONE FOR EACH TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINE, SAIDCONVEYERS BEING COMMUNICATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID STATOR MEANS; MEANSFOR INTERMITENTLY WITHDRAWING METERED QUANTITIES OF TOBACCO FROM SAIDSOURCE AND FOR TRANSFERRING SUCH METERED QUANTITIES OF TOBACCO THROUGHSAID INTAKE OPENING MEANS AND INTO THE MOMENTARILY ALIGNED CHAMBER TOFILL THE SAME; AND MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ROTATING SAID ROTOR MEANS SOAS TO ALIGN FILLED TOBACCO-CONTAINING CHAMBERS WITH SAID CONVEYERSPREPARATORY TO TRANSFER OF TOBACCO TO THE RESPECTIVE TOBACCO PROCESSINGMACHINES.